Niko Mat
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Posted - 2009.03.26 20:05:00 -
[1]
 Originally by: Elhina Novae
Originally by: Merin Ryskin
a passive targeter will do absolutely nothing on a bomber.
 fail Merin
I'd be interested if you could expand on your derision, since I share Merin's view with my current understanding.
To my knowledge, there are two relevant facts about passive targeters:
1. They only work if you have no other targets locked
2. They basically mean the opponent doesn't see the "solid yellow brackets" stage of targeting, but don't do anything to the "solid red brackets"/"flashy red background" part.
So basically, the situation described above where you passively lock additional targets doesn't seem like it would be possible (given my understanding of how they're used, I may be wrong with this). Additionally, in almost all situations where you're targeting, you'll be locking and precycling the weapons so you go straight from "no lock notification" to "red brackets/flashy red" in exactly the same way whether you use a passive targeter or not.
Passive target locking can be worthwhile if you're trying to do something like flip a can, and be able to attack someone the second they take it back without spooking them - or possibly be ready to fire on someone you think is going to go outlaw in lowsec without firing first - but in the majority of situations, it's not that worthwhile. Lock target and fire weapons instantly. Lack of ability to passively lock multiple targets means I actually don't see any real combat situations (i.e., excluding the above) where you'd use them. And that's even assuming that people take different action according to whether they see you have them locked or not (while the existence of this module implies this is true, I'm not convinced; in most situations they will be able to tell you're an enemy and will shoot you if they are able to, regardless of any yellow brackets).
Can you passively target multiple ships? Are there many situations where it really would be worthwhile anyway (i.e. where you are shooting someone's friend and somehow you think the existence, or lack of, yellow brackets would make them perceive you as a different kind of threat in any way)?
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